Jerry Don Murfin

Pastor Jerry Don Murfin, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Monday morning, December 22, 2025. He was 84 years old and was with loving family members when he passed. Jerry was born to Vieva and Sam Murfin on July 31st, 1941, in Stroud, Oklahoma. He graduated Milfay High School in 1960 in Milfay, Oklahoma. Jerry played enforcer on the Milfay High School basketball team starting his freshman year and was a starter all four years of high school. Jerry and Judy were high school sweethearts and were married on September 17, 1960. The first three years of marriage brought two sons, Freddy Wayne in 1962 and Larry Dwayne in 1964. Later that year, the family moved to Fontana, California, and Jerry went to work as a plumber’s assistant and at night went to Modesto jr college and graduated with a master’s Plumbing degree. In September of 1968, Steven Richard was born, and in 1974. The family moved back to Stroud, Oklahoma, and soon after they started J &M Plumbing in the spring of 1975. Jerry and Judy ran that family business for the next 40 years, employing all 3 sons until they graduated and left the home for their careers. Judy & Jerry were both ordained by Bill White in 1984. They began New Covenant Church in 1985 and started doing mission trips to Jamaica, Africa, the Philippines, and Japan. They started a prison ministry in 1992. Jerry and Judy both were preaching in prisons and county jails to men and women alike. When certain prisoners were paroled or got out of jail, Mom and Dad would provide them with a home and find them a job in the city of Stroud, helping countless children, men, and women to be saved a home and find employment. They began a 17-year global mission to touch people through a radio ministry around the world. He loved teaching the word of God to anyone who was willing to listen. His ability to teach came from his continuous search for knowledge in everything Christianity, from reading the Bible to studying Hebrew text. Jerry was not shy, and he did not shy away from problems. He was the mayor of Stroud for four years and was a city council member for 16 years. He was also the Santa Claus for the Christmas parade for many years. The city of Stroud honored Jerry and Judy Murfin with the Citizens of the Year award in 2022. Jerry was the pastor of New Covenant Church of Stroud, Oklahoma, for over 40 years. Always happy to lend a hand and give encouraging words to everyone around him. In Jerry‘s later years, he started repairing bicycles for children, and in a 15-year ministry, and was able to give away over 700 bicycles to children that would otherwise not be able to ride. To know Jerry was to love him. He had an infectious smile, a huge personality, and just the right amount of ornery charm. He was a man who could make you laugh one moment and point you straight to Jesus the next. He yodeled, sang, joked, and lived life fully and unapologetically. Jerry was a Johnny Cash–loving, sharp-dressed, dapper gentleman with a heart as big as his laugh. Anytime he was out of line, you could always hear “Jerry Don” from his beloved wife, Judy, keeping him in check.

Family meant everything to Jerry. He was a proud family man who cherished time spent with his sons and grandchildren—especially while building his famous ’41 Ford Pickup truck, shouting the loudest at all ballgames, and being a complete goof with his favorite trick: sticking out his dentures and asking if anyone wanted to hold his teeth. He played that joke for all of his grandkids and he’d burst out laughing. Adding to his ornery nature, Jerry had a gift for nicknames, for example Clyde & Jake for his granddaughters, delivering them as if they made perfect sense no matter the reason,That was him—always trying to bring a smile to someone’s face. He passed down stories, skills, and memories that will live on for generations. His faith wasn’t just preached; it was lived daily through kindness, humility, and unwavering devotion. We cannot tell you how many times in the last month someone has said he taught my child to yodel for a dollar or that Jerry Murfin helped me got off drugs and even Jerry Murfin saved My life. His legacy of kindness, godliness, and a firm hand with the belief that we should all do the right thing. Jerry’s memory will live on for many, many years in his teaching the word of God and teaching people to walk like Christ and how to live and to be a good and decent person. Jerry was preceded in death by Judy Murfin, his beautiful wife of 60 years of Stroud, Oklahoma; mother, Viva and father, Sam Murfin of Stroud Oklahoma ; his brother, Sammy Murfin of Newcastle, Oklahoma; and his brother, Harold Murfin of Houston, Texas. His twin brother Jesse Murfin that passed away at birth of Stroud, Oklahoma. Jerry was also preceded in death by his grandson Cory Murfin of Wilson, OK. Jerry is survived by his.

Son Fred and Kim Murfin of Wilson, OK; granddaughter, Carissa and Kaleb Aycox; and great-grandchildren, Alee and Nicholas Aycox,Maycee and KeyGan Smith of Wilson, OK.

Son Larry and Pam Murfin of Sapulpa; granddaughter, Erin (Clyde) Murfin of Tulsa, OK; grandson, Jared and Amy Murfin; and great-grandchildren, Rivers and Blake Murfin of Sapulpa, OK; grandson, Hayden and Kayla Hopkins ; great grandchildren Ryleigh and Jackson of Sapulpa, OK; and grandchildren, Harrison and Hudson Hopkins of Sapulpa, OK.

Son Steve and Tracy Murfin; grandson Caleb and Shelbie Murfin, Granddaughter Gabriella( Jake) Murfin, Grandchildren Coby, Emma, Peyton Davis of Stroud, OK. Granddaughter, Kelsie and Jordan Crawley; great-grandsons, Nazareth and Nineveh Crawley of Tulsa, OK; and many other family members.

Please join his family and friends in a celebration of life on Tuesday, December 30th at 1 p.m. at the Stroud Public School Auditorium, 1096 E. 7th St Stroud, OK.

Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.